BILL NUMBER: SCR 8	CHAPTERED  09/02/99

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER   92
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 2, 1999
	ADOPTED IN SENATE   AUGUST 26, 1999
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 19, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 19, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MAY 6, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Senators Costa, Figueroa, Karnette, and Vasconcellos
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Brewer, Florez, Machado,
Villaraigosa, Ackerman, Alquist, Aroner, Ashburn, Baldwin, Bates,
Battin, Baugh, Bock, Briggs, Calderon, Campbell, Cardenas, Cardoza,
Cedillo, Corbett, Correa, Cox, Cunneen, Davis, Dickerson, Ducheny,
Dutra, Firebaugh, Frusetta, Gallegos, Granlund, Havice, Hertzberg,
Honda, House, Jackson, Keeley, Knox, Kuehl, Leach, Lempert, Leonard,
Longville, Lowenthal, Maddox, Maldonado, Margett, Mazzoni,
McClintock, Nakano, Olberg, Oller, Robert Pacheco, Rod Pacheco,
Papan, Pescetti, Reyes, Romero, Runner, Scott, Shelley, Soto,
Steinberg, Strickland, Strom-Martin, Thomson, Torlakson, Vincent,
Washington, Wayne, Wesson, Wiggins, Wildman, Wright, and Zettel)

                        JANUARY 21, 1999

   Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8--Relative to a sister state
relationship with the State of Parana, Brazil.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 8, Costa.  Parana:  sister state relationship.
   This measure would extend an invitation to the people of the State
of Parana, Brazil, to join with California in a sister state
relationship.




   WHEREAS, The State of Parana, Brazil, has expressed interest in
the creation of a sister state relationship with the State of
California; and
   WHEREAS, South America, in general, and Brazil, in particular,
rank among California's highest priorities in terms of trade and
investment opportunities, according to the California Trade and
Commerce Agency; and
   WHEREAS, Establishing strong ties in Brazil will enhance
California's position for the anticipated development of the Free
Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA) over the next several years;
and
   WHEREAS, Brazil is making great strides toward economic
liberalization and privatization of industry, and offers considerable
opportunities for California firms in the fields of
telecommunications, information technology and infrastructure
development; and
   WHEREAS, The States of California and Parana share similar
historical, geographical, economic and demographic characteristics,
including early periods of colonialism, temperate climates, diverse
landscapes, beautiful national parks, numerous high technology
centers, and large populations of immigrants who contribute to rich
multicultural environments; and
   WHEREAS, Parana's strategic location near the most developed
economic centers of Brazil, and the capital cities of the Mercosur
countries, parallels California's role as one of the most
economically attractive regions of the United States; and
   WHEREAS, Both states derive their economic prosperity in large
measure from their roles as commercial and processing centers for
expanding agricultural and ranching enterprises and from their
fast-growing telecommunications industries; and
   WHEREAS, Curitiba, the capital of Parana, prides itself on being
the most "livable" city in Brazil, whose ecologically sustainable
urban development, excellent public transportation system, quality of
life, and general environmental urban design have earned it the
title of United Nations Model City and Environmental Capital of
Brazil; and
   WHEREAS, A sister state relationship will promote an exchange of
information that will assist the governments of both Parana and
California in their roles of regulating the development of natural
resources while limiting environmental degradation, and in the
development of programs that will ensure biodiversity through
participatory projects and activities; and
   WHEREAS, A sister state relationship between California and Parana
will facilitate the exchange of other technical, cultural and
scientific knowledge of mutual interest, provide a forum for sharing
legislative solutions that will enhance the socioeconomic development
of both states and encourage student exchanges between colleges and
universities located within California and Parana; and
   WHEREAS, A sister state relationship will also promote mutual
trade, commerce, and investment, and increase the potential for
commercial relationships between small, medium, and large companies
in California and the State of Parana; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
on behalf of the people of California hereby extends to the people of
the State of Parana an invitation to join with California in a
sister state relationship in order to promote and assure mutually
beneficial, educational, economic, environmental, scientific, and
cultural exchanges that will lead to a closer relationship between
Californians and the citizens of the State of Parana; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the Governor of the State of Parana, to the Governor
of California, and to each Senator and Representative from California
in the Congress of the United States.
